Drivers for setting fasteners



Aug. 27, 1968 w, BATTEN 3,398,612

DRIVERS FOR SETTING FASTENERS Filed Dec. 27, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 4ii oz/mve co/vmr/o/v l3 ovmewwma comm/01v LEI/ER HANDLE 02 mm Fan usvszBACK-OFF 43 $3 I l HIH. I. g g w 1765 I I l l 47 46 /3 44 $4 i L l /5 334/ \I/ l /0 4o INVENTOR.

RONALD W BATTEN ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 27, 1968 R. w. BATTEN DRIVERS FOR SETTINGFASTENERS Filed Dec;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Ron A10 M 8477'! BY United States Patent3,398,612 DRIVERS FOR SETTING FASTENERS Ronald W. Batten, Torrance,'Calif., assignor to Hi- Shear Corporation, Torrance, Calif., acorporation of California Continuation-impart of application Ser. No.587,320, Oct. 17, 1966. This application Dec. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 613,698

3 Claims. (Cl. 81-54) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relatesto drivers for setting fasteners, such as threaded screws and nuts. Adriver, according to the present invention, includes an overrunningclutch adapted to rotate a fastener-engaging tool member in onedirection, thereby driving an engaged fastener in the one direction, andfurther adapted to be rotated in an opposite, or back-01f direction,whereby the tool member is de-coupled from rotational movement with theclutch. The clutch is preferably an overrunning roller clutch. Thedriver may be backed off and driven with infinitely variable incrementalmovements.

The invention additionally relates to a pulsating power means for thewrench.

This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application, Ser.No. 587,320, filed Oct. 17, 1966, now abandoned, for Drivers for SettingFasteners, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.

This invention relates to drivers for setting fasteners, such asthreaded screws and nuts. Wrenches and screw drivers are well knownexamples of such drivers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a driver for settingfasteners with a fastener-engaging tool member and an overrunning clutchfor engaging the fastener-engaging tool member so as to rotate with thedriver in one direction and for disengaging the tool member when thedriver rotates in an opposite direction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a driver fordriving a tool member, which driver has a back-off and a drive movement,and which driver is capable of small and infinitely variable incrementalbackoif and drive movements. With such an arrangement, a mechanic is nolonger constrained by surrounding structure to backing off a driverthrough a specific number of degrees before taking another bite on thework. Instead, he may make as many small bites as he wishes, and backoff through any number of degrees to achieve the desired results.

' An optional and desirable object of the present invention is toprovide a driver for driving a tool member, which driver is operated bya motor, and which can operate incrementally to take advantage of thesmallincrement feature of the driver itself.

According to the present invention, a driver is provided for rotating afastener tool. The driver comprises an overrunning clutch adapted torotate a fastener-engaging tool member in one direction, thereby causingthe tool member to rotate an engaged fastener in the one direction. Thedriver is further adapted to be rotated in the opposite, or back-offdirection, thereby decoupling the tool member from rotational movementwith said overrunning clutch.

An optional feature of the present invention resides in the use of aroller type of overrunning, or one-way clutch assembly havingcam-bearing surfaces on an outer member connected to a driver of afastening tool. A roller-retaining means contains a plurality of rollerswhich are adapted to engage the tool member to rotational movement withsaid cam-bearing outer. member when the driver is rotated in the drivingdirection, and the rollers are further adapted to release the toolmemher from rotational movement when the driver is rotated in theback-off direction. The clutch thereby allows incremental back-ofl. anddrive movement of the driver through angles of any size.

The above and other features of this invention will be fully understoodfrom the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly in cutaway crosssection whichillustrates a hand wrench according to a preferred form of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cutaway views partly in cutaway cross-section takenalong lines 22 and 3--3 respectively, in FIG. 1 showing differentoperating conditions of the wrench of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, partly in cutaway crosssection, of anotherembodiment of a wrench according to the present invention using a toolelement which is directly insertable in the overrunning clutch;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation, partly in cutaway crosssection, of stillanother form of the invention showing a screw driver using theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of still another embodiment of a wrenchaccording to the present invention characterized in the use of anextendable, reversible adapter for providing the capacity of drivingboth counterclockwise and clockwise;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a power-driven wrench according to stillanother form of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a top elevation of the wrench illustrated in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a cutaway top elevation of another form of a power-drivenwrench according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred form of a wrench according to the presentinvention having a body 10 (sometimes called a driver member) and alever handle 11 attached thereto. A cylindrical passage 12 extendsthrough body 10. An overrunning roller clutch 13 is located withinpassage 12 and is integrally connected to body 10. A coupler 14 has acylindrical shaft 15 set within roller clutch 13. Body 10, roller clutch13 and shaft 15 are co-axially aligned about a common axis. Annularshoulders 16 and 17 on coupler 14 are located at each end of shaft 15and abut the ends of the roller clutch to retain shaft 15 within theroller clutch, thereby retaining coupler 14 to roller clutch 15. When soassembled, passage 12, roller clutch 13 and shaft 15 are axially alignedso that handle 11 may be rotated about the axis to drive or back-off thewrench.

Adapters 18 and 19 project from annular shoulders 16 and 17 of coupler14 opposite shaft 15 and carry ball detents 20 and 21, respectively.Adapters 18 and 19 are adapted to receive suitable tool elements orsocket members as are indicated by numbers 22 and 23. Ball detents 20and 21 provide suitable locating and retaining means for attaching toolelements 22 and 23 to adapters 18 and 19.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an overrunning roller clutch 13 within wrenchhousing 10. One convenient example of a clutch 13 is available from theTorrington Company, Torrington, Conn., as Model Number RC-l62ll0. Clutch13 comprises a one-piece retaining and actuating cage 24 fixed tohousing 10. Located between the two end surfaces 24a on cage 24 are aplurality of peripheral teeth 25 forming sloping wedge-shapedcam-bearing surfaces 30. Longitudinal bars 26 extend between the ends ofcage 24, and an integral roller-retaining step 27 is located on theinner edge of each bar. An integral bifurcated leaf spring 28 projectsfrom the mid point (not shown) of the front face of each bar 26. Rollers29 are retained in the space between cam surfaces 30, steps 37 and leafsprings 28.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, when body o-fthe wrench is rotated in aclockwise direction (such as when tightening right hand bolt threads),rollers 29 are: urged toward steps 27 due to springs 28 and becomewedged between cam-bearing surfaces 30 and cylindrical shaft 15. Thewedging of rollers 29 between cam-bearing surface 30 and shaft preventsthe rollers from rotating. Shaft 15 thus rotates with body 10 due to thewedging action of rollers 29 against shaft 15 and cam-bearing surfaces30.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, when body 10 of the wrench is rotated in acounterclockwise direction, (such as when backing oif lever handle 11)rollers 29 are urged against springs 28 due to friction between thesurface of cylindrical shaft 15 and rollers 29. Since rollers 29 arefree from contact with cam-bearing surfaces 30, rollers 29 are permittedto rotate about their own axis as cage 24 urges rollers 29 in acounterclockwise path around cylindrical shaft 15. Shaft 15 thus remainsstationary while body 10 and rollers 29 rotate about it.

In practice, a suitable tool, such as illustrated at 22, is attached toadapter 18- or 19 in a manner hereinbefore described. The assembled toolelement and coupler 14 (sometimes called tool member) are rotated byrotational movement of handle 11 and body 10; The tool element isattached to a suitable nut or stud (not shown) which may be tightened byproviding a motion to lever handle 11 similar to that which would beapplied to a ratchet wrench.

In the driving condition as illustrated in FIG. 2, the positive actionof the rollers against cam-bearing surfaces 30 and the surface of shaft15 will cause shaft 15 to rotate through an angle by locking onto theshaft. In the backotf condition as illustrated in FIG. 3, handle 11 maybe backed-01f through any incremental angle, and the rollers willrelease from their wedged position to allow clutch 24 to overrun througha similar incremental angle.

To loosen a nut or stud, a suitable tool element or socket such asillustrated at 23, is attached to adapter 19. Tool element 23 is engagedto the nut or stud to be loosened, and lever handle 11 is provided witha motion similar to the well known motion given to ratchet wrenches.Again, the motion may be imparted through any incremental angle. Thedriving direction is reversed by using the opposite end of the shaft fordriving.

Adapters 18 and 19 preferably are of similar design so that the sametool element or socket member may be alternatively attached to eitheradapter so that the same tool element or socket member may be used foreither tightening or loosening fasteners such as nuts and studs.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified wrench of the present invention using atool element which is directly insertable within the overrunning rollerclutch from either side. The wrench has a body 10 (sometimes called adriver member) and a lever handle 11 attached thereto. A cylindricalpassage 12 passes through body 10 and an overrunning roller clutch 13 isintegrally connected to body '10 in passage 12. Shaft 15 is connected totool member 31 and is positioned within roller clutch 13 in the mannerheretofore described. Integrally connected to tool member 31 is suitablesocket portion or tool element 32 for engagement with a nut, stud orother fastener.

A radial groove 33 is located in shaft 15 at the end opposite fromsocket 32. Within groove 33 is set a suitable expansion spring or balldetent 34 for abutment against one end of roller clutch 13. Shoulder 35of tool element 31 abuts the opposite end of roller clutch 13.

Shaft 15 is inserted within the clutch 13 by compressing spring or balldetent 34 into groove 33 and inserting shaft 15 into the cylindricalopening of clutch 13. Shaft 15 may be inserted within clutch 13 fromeither side so that tool member 31 may be alternatively used for eithera clockwise or counterclockwise driving condition.

FIG. 6 illustrates another form of a wrench according to the presentinvention. Overrunning roller clutch 13 is integrally connected to body10 of the wrench. Coupler 36 passes through passage 37 within rollerclutch 13 and carries a pair of annular shoulders 38 and 39. Ball detent40 is located medial the two endsof coupler 36. Coupler 36 isconstructed so that when shoulder 38 abuts one end of roller clutch 13,ball detent 40 extends beyond the surface of coupler 36 outside ofpassage 37 to retain the coupler in place. Ball detent 40 maybe releasedby compressing it into coupler 36 to allow the coupler to be moved tothe position shown by dashed lines 36a. When the coupler is in theposition shown by the dashed lines, shoulder 39 abuts the opposite endof roller clutch 13, while ball detent 40 retains thecoupler in aposition by extending beyond the surfance of coupler 36 outside ofpassage 37.

A pair of. adapters 41 and 42 are integrally formed within each end ofcoupler 36. Adapters 41 and 42 are adapted toreceive suitable toolelements or sockets (not shown). One adapter is fittedwith a toolelement for driving a fastener, while the other adapter is used forremoving a fastener. The assembled tool element and coupler (sometimescalled tool member) are rotated by rotational movement of the handle andbody 10.

FIG. 5 illustrates a screw driver according to the present invention.Overrunning roller clutch 13 is integrally connected to handle 43(sometimes called a driver member) of the screw driver. Coupler 44carries an annular shoulder 45 for abutment against one end ofoverrunning clutch 13. Shaft 15 extends from shoulder 45 of the couplerthrough overrunning clutch 13 and carries a threaded portion 46 whichmates with coupler 47. Coupler 47 has an end portion 48 which abuts theopposite end of roller clutch 13. Suitable adapters 49 and 50 are formedat the opposite ends of couplers 44 and 47, respectively. Couplers 44and 47 are adapted to axially rotate with shaft 15 in handle 43 of thescrew driver. Suitable ball detent receiving means 51 and 52 are locatedin each of the adapters 49 and 50 respectively. A suitable screw drivingblade 53 is provided having a mating adapter 54. Adapter 54 carries aball detent 55 and is mateable with either adapter 49 or 50 so that balldetent 55 is received within ball detent receiving means 51 or 52, asillustrated. The assembled coupler and blade 53 (sometimes called a toolmember) are rotated by rotational movement of handle 43.

The screw driver illustrated in FIG. 5 is useful for driving andremoving screws, depending on which of the adapters the screw drivingblade 53 is connected to. The screw driver is operated by impartingratchet motion to handle 43 round the axis of the tool in a mannersimilar to that imparted to ratchet wrenches and screw drivers. Like thewrench illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, the screw driver may be backedoff and then driven through any arbitrary angle.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a power-driven wrench according to the presentinvention. Overrunning clutch is mounted to driver member 61 and has apassage 62 formed about axis 63 for receiving a suitable fastener socket(not shown). The fastener socket assembly is preferably of the typedescribed and illustrated in any of FIGS. 1-6. Integrally formed withdriver member 61 is lever arm 64. Driver member 60 is journaled tohousing 65 and is free to rotate about axis 63.

An actuating level 66 is rotationally mounted by fulcrum means 67 tohousing 65. The fulcrum means may, for example, be a bearing. Anadjustment screw 68 is threaded through passage 69 in actuating lever 66and is fixedly located by lock nut 70. End 71 of adjustment screw 68 iscontiguous to one side of lever arm 64. Spring bias means 72, retainedwithin retainer 73 in housing 65, is adapted to be contiguous to theopposite side of lever arm 64 from the adjustment screw 68. Spring biasmeans 72, which may, for example, be a coil spring, biases lever arm 64against end 71 of the adjustment screw.

Motor means 74, which may, for example, be a compressed air motor, ismounted to housing 65 and is operated by lever 75 to rotate shaft 76.Cam 77 is amounted to shaft 76 and is placed contiguous to cam-follower78, which in turn is mounted to actuating lever 66 by shaft 79. Themotor and cam arrangement provide a source of pulsating power to leverarm 64. Other suitable sources of pulsating power may be used, such aspoppets and other reciprocators.

In operation of the power driven wrench, when motor 74 is energized, itrotatoes cam 77 about axis 82. The camming motion against the contiguouscam follower 78 causes actuating arm 66 to reciprocate about fulcrumpoint 67 so as to reciprocate lever arm 64 about axis 63 as in a walkingbeam. Spring bias means 72 biases lever arm 64 against screw 68. Areciprocal motion is imparted to driver member 61, thereby driving theoverrunning clutch in alternate clockwise and counterclockwisedirections. The overrunning clutch controls the driving of the fastenerin a manner hereinbefore described.

The projection of the adjustment screw from the actuating lever may beadjusted by turning the screw in threaded passage 69 and fixing theprojection by action of lock nut 70. The adjustment screw therebycontrols the angular position of lever arm 64. Furthermore, adjustmentscrew 68 may be positioned through other passages 80 along actuatinglever 66 to thereby vary the tongue output on driver 61.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modification of the cam means used forreciprocating actuating lever 66 of the power driven wrench. Face cam 81is connected to shaft 76 of the motor (not shown) and is placedcontiguous to cam-follower 78 which is mounted to actuating lever 66 byshaft 79 in the manner hereinbefore described As shaft 76 rotates, facecam 81 causes actuating lever 66 to reciprocate about pivot point 67 inthe manner hereinbefore described.

The present invention thus provides a driver which is quiet, efficient,inexpensive and requires little maintenance. The operation of therollers on the wedging surface provides positive action on the drivingtool and virtually eliminates backlash. The back-off and drive movementsmay be of any arbitrary incremental angle, as the roller clutch providespositive drive and back-off movements through any are.

The fastening tool is useful as a hand tool, and also as a power-driventool where a source of driving movement is available.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiments shown in thedrawings and described in the description which are given by Way ofexample and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A driver adapted to rotate a fastener about an axis, said drivercomprising: a tool member being adapted to engage a fastener for turningthe same; a driver member having a first axis and adapted to rotate ineither of two directions about said first axis; an overrunning clutchconnected to one of said members and connectable to the other of saidmembers, said overrunning clutch being adapted to rotate said toolmember upon rotational movement of said driver in one of the said twodirections; a housing; a lever arm connected to said driver membernormal to said first axis and capable of rotating about said first axisrelative to said housing, and actuating means mounted to said housing topulsate said lever arm about said first axis relative to said housing,said actuating means comprising an actuating lever having a second axisabout which it may pulsate, bias means for biasing said lever armagainst said actuating lever at a first point remote from first andsecond axes, and pulsating means for pulsating said actuating lever.

2. A driver according to claim 1 wherein said pulsating means comprisescam means connected to said actuating lever at a second point remotefrom said first point and from said second axis, said cam means beingadapted to be rotated to pulsate said actuating lever.

3. A driver according to claim 1 further including adjustment meansmounted to said actuating lever, said bias means biasing said lever armagainst said adjustment means, said adjustment means being capable ofproviding adjustment of the torque delivered to said driver member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,726,563 12/1955 Blackburn8158.1 2,711,110 6/1955 Brame 8158.1 3,204,496 9/1965 Ingram 8159.13,256,758 6/1966 Medesha 74125.5 X 3,329,185 7/1967 Hettich et al81-59.1 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 882,159 7/ 1953 Austria.

JAMES L. JONES, JR., Primary Examiner.

